'Groceries': A bag with different things in it?

An 'old fashioned word' made headlines this week: groceries. The current U.S. president describes the word to mean 'sort of says a bag with different things in it'. (okay.....)

But groceries are more than that. Groceries are part of the way we sustain and feed ourselves and our families.

For several weeks I've been sharing on Threads tips on building a pantry and maximizing the investment of time and money involved in thoughtfully planning the food gathered in our homes. This article is made from some of those recent tips and my experience on how we can focus on what we actually control.

I can't afford to stock up on 4 year's of food, nor do I have the room to store it even if I could! Maybe that's you, too?

There are things we can do to be better prepared if prices get too high or foods that we regularly use are scarce. Or- if you are ill and can't get out to shop, live too far from a store... or anything else.

Prepare

Plan before leaving the house using these five steps:

1. See what you already have and organize it. Your pantry should be in a place that is convenient and not exposed to swings in temperature.
2. Place things that will expire first in the front of your shelves. They are the first items you'll use.
3. Place like items with like items. Maybe all baking items gathered, all cans together, coffee/tea/cocoa/juices, etc.
4. Combine and repackage where it makes sense, and to free up room for new purchases. My mom used to make Our Family Cereal when the bag was too low for a full bowl. We didn't love it but we ate it when we were hungry.
5. Decide what is close to expiring and make a plan to use it over the next few days.

Then think a while about the past few days and

• write down the food that you ate last week (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks. Think about lunches you packed, too, not just what you ate in the house.
• add your favorite meals to the list , like your 'special occasion' meals such as holidays, birthdays, sick days, etc.
• have picky eaters? add their 'must haves' to keep the peace
• now break that list into ingredients. (I know this sounds hard, but it's not bad! Promise!) For example: eggs and toast with coffee is : eggs (duh) bread, coffee of course. Did you also use butter? jelly? peanut butter? creamer? sweetener? Add those things, too.

Now ask yourself this and add it to your ingredient list if you haven't already captured these:

What are you missing in your pantry (include freezers, fridge. 'Pantry' is just a word for 'where you store food') if you needed to make any of your favorite foods? Then note how many of the ingredients you would need to make a month of your favorite foods.

Your answers and the planning list becomes what you will concentrate on getting first as you create your pantry. BUT! You aren't ready to shop yet!

DO THIS BEFORE YOU SHOP!

1) Make room to store the items you'll buy!

2) Have storage methods/containers ready before you buy. This may include: canning jars, seals and rings, plasticware, baggies, vacuum bags, foil, freezer paper, and sharpies.

3) Clear your workspace before you go to the store. Future-You will be so happy that you did this pre-work!

While You Shop

Stay focused and try to resist impulse buying. My rule of thumb: for every five food items you can add a non-food item to the pantry. Here's some ideas of what that might mean, I'm sure you'll have some of your own must-haves on the list:

• storage containers, wraps, bags, or lidded bins
• paper products TP (toilet paper) and PT (paper towels)
• water softener salt
• pet food
• tampons, pads, condoms
• tooth paste, brushes, pics, and floss
• shampoo, conditioner, soaps
• laundry and dish soaps and cleaners
• flu/COVID tests
• pain killers
• vitamins
• diapers
• case or jug of water, for drinking and for CPAP/BIPAP machines
• matches/lighters/candles

As you put the items into the cart evaluate your decisions about what and how much you are buying:

• how many ways can I use it?
• how many ways can I store it?
• what nutritional value does it have?
• can I make it from scratch instead?
• do I have room for it?
• can I afford to buy more and donate it?

Consider the following, too; canned goods may get more expensive due to metals tariffs. Look for a current good price then buy; don't tell yourself that a few saved cents will make it a hugely better buy.

Check the expiration date before you buy in bulk or quantities: wasted food is wasted money. Have a plan to begin using what you buy right away. You are building a pantry, not a Museum of Food.

Remember

There are many distractions and actions that can create massive anxiety for people. Those are mostly things outside of our direct control. The farther away from our control the more anxiety they create.

Remind yourself that you are controlling what you can and taking positive steps for your household. Anything that you can do: organize, evaluate, plan, donate; is something that the wonderfully unique YOU CAN and ARE claiming control of and bringing peace into that corner of your life.

I am so proud of you.

~~~

Future articles in this series will be linked here.